Knitting machine and adjustable elements therefor



V. LOMBARDI Dec; 24, 1935'.

' KNITTING MACHINE AND ADJUSTABLE ELEMENTS THEREFOR Filed April 17, 1934FIG. 9

uwmrwe VINCENT LOMBARDI A TTORNEV Patented Dec. 24, 1935 KNE'ETINGMACHINE AND ADJUSTABLE ELEMENTS THEREFOR Vincent Lombardi, Garden City,N. 1 assig'nor to Lombardi Knitting Machine $0., 1110., New York, Y acorporation of New York Application April 17, 1934, Serial No. 720,960

14 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines and certain types ofcontrolling devices therefor such as needle jacks and has for an objectthe provision of such a device capable of a variety of uses in aknitting machine to secure a greater degree of selective operation thanhas heretofore been possible.

In certain aspects this invention constitutes an improvement overcertain of the forms of construction particularly exemplified in my U.S. application No. 680,168 filed July 13, 1933 wherein knitting needlesare disclosed having pivoted elements mounted thereon at a point remotefrom the yarn receiving hook, the said pivoted elements having aplurality of cam receiving surfaces to enable each needle to beselectively advanced or retracted in accordance with any predeterminedpattern control. In accordance. with the preferred form of the presentinvention the said pivoted element is not pivotally mounted on theneedle shank but is placed in the needle slot preferably as a separateunit with such a configuration as to permit step by step rotativemovement as well as longitudinal movement while being held in placepreferably between the bottom of the slot and a stationary memberexternal to the slot. Thus one side edge may be wide V-shaped with thepoint of the V at the center of its length while the opposite side edgein its central portion comprises a rounded bearing surface. Preferablythe V-shaped side is in the bottom of the slot with the rounded surfacecontacting with said external member.

This invention will be better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingin which.

Fig. 1 represents a needle actuating element embodying this inventionfor selective advancement to a fully advanced or partially advancedposition;

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 except for the manner in which thepre-selection of the angular position of the element is secured;

Fig. 3 is also similar to Fig. 1 except for a different type of camactuated surfaces for receiving pattern determinations;

Fig. 4 is another form of the invention in which the needle actuatingelement is loosely mounted on the end of a needle for longitudinalmovement but not rigidly pivoted thereto;

Figs. 5 and 6 represent difierent views of still another form of theinvention with special fric tioned means for opposing jack movement;

Fig. 7 represents a type of jack held in the. slot in the same manner asthe other figures but pivotally mounted on a separate slidable elementand Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified type of jack Where the centralportion of the jack does not 5 project beyond the needle slot.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 a sectional View of a needlecylinder ill of a knitting machine is shown with the usual needle slot Hcontaining a needle l2. As previously stated it is 10 frequently desiredin a knitting machine to selectively actuate each needle to any one ofseveral levels to produce varied pattern effects. One way in which thismay be accomplished is shown in Fig. 1 in which the lower part of theneedle slot ll contains a special jack l3 designed to be angularly movedto any one of several positions by a pattern controlling agency. Theeffect of the jack #3 in actuating needle i2 depends upon its angularposition at the time advancing cam M comes into operation.

Referring to configuration and mounting arrangement of jack l3 it is tobe noted that its edge at the bottom of the slot comprises two taperededges l4 and l5 which meet at a point it centrally with respect to thelength of the jack. Thus in the solid line position shown the jack is incontact with the bottom of the needle slot only at the point It andtapers away from the slot bottom in the direction of each end of thejack. This enables the jack to be readily rocked about the point It forangular movement. The opposite edge of the jack in the central portionthereof has a smoothly rounded or arcuate shaped portion I! normally inslight frictional engagement with a stationary ring l8 inside the needlecylinder l8 and suitably supported in a manner not shown. The width ofthe jack is substantially equal to the distance between ring I 8 and thebottom of the slot. The jack is therefore free to rotate through asubstantial angle about the point it as an axis, the rotative move-.ment resulting in the sliding of the curved surface I? past its pointof contact with ring l8, ring l8 serving to retain the jack in theneedle slot in its proper position. In order that the jack may hold anyparticular angular position in the needle slot the jack is preferablysomewhat thinner than the width of slot l l so that the jack may becorrugated as by being bent on the lines l9, to secure the necessaryfriction between the jack and the slot walls against movement exceptwhen a definite force is applied.

In the particular form of jack shown in Fig. 1 the upper arm thereofexternal to the needle slot is designed to be acted upon by certain cammeans or other force intended for conveying to the jack a setting whichwill produce a desired effect on the associated. needle. Themulti-headed arrow 26 indicates such a means which dependent upon itscharacter may move jack from dotted line position 2I to the full lineposition shown or to the dotted line position 22 or may leave the jackundisturbed in dotted position 2I. If we assume that the means 23actuates jack I3 to the full line position it will be apparent that acam 28 arriving after such actuation will contact with shoulder 23 andlift jack I3 and associated needle I2 to an intermediate position butnot to a fully advanced position. If the means 20 actuates jack I3 tothe dotted line position 22 it will be apparent that the cam 28 willcontact with shoulder 24 and cause the needle I2 to be fully advanced.However if means 26 allows the jack to remain in the dotted position 2|it will be apparent that both shoulders 23, 24 will be out'of the pathof cam 23 and no advancement of jack I3 or needle I2 will take place.

It will also appear from the drawing that needle I2 has a suitable butt25 which will enable cam 26 to retract the needle and its jack eitherfrom a fully or partially advanced position.

In order to restore jack i3 after it has been moved counterclockwise byforce 29, the same may be. accomplished by applying a force at the point2'! which will turn the jack'in a clockwise manner either to the solidline position or to the dotted line position 2i or allow it to remain indotted line position 22 as the pattern may dictate.

Due to the rotative nature of the settings given jack I3 it ispreferable that the lower edge of the needle and the upper edge of thejack bearcuate shaped so that any setting of jack I3 does notimmediately disturb the curve about a center of curvature I6. It will benoticed however that jack I3 is not fastened to the needle I2 in anyway' but is an independently formed element.

The needle jack 33 of Fig. 2 is quite similar in operation andconstruction to jack I3 of Fig. l

' except for the configuration of the upper arm of the jack where thepattern determining actuations are applied to the jack. It is assumed inthis figure that the actuating force is constant in length of stroke butis variable in location. Thus if the pattern determining force isapplied at the level 3! contact is made with edge 32 to drive the jack3? to the dotted line position 33 in which case the subsequent arrivalof cam 34 will contact with shoulder 35 and raise the jack and itsneedle to a fully advanced position. If the force is applied at level 36the jack is moved to the solid line position of Fig. 2 which permits cam34 to raise the jack and needle to a partially advanced position. If theforce is applied at level 31 the jack is not moved from the position itmay have at that movement, that is, it retains its previous setting. Thejack 36 as shown is retained in the needle slot and adapted for rotativemovement for the same reasons as the jack of Fig. 1. Ring 38 is the sameas ring I8. Restoring force 39 may act in the same way as at the point21 in Fig. l.

The jack 46 of Fig. 3 is also quite similar to the jack of Fig. 1 exceptfor more elaborate pressure surfaces on the outside edge both of theupper and lower arms. In Figs. 1 and 2 the jacks are adapted to beselectively set by a counter clockselectively set either in a clockwiseor counter clockwise manner.

For counterclockwise movement the actuating force may be applied atdifferent levels but all effective for the same distance towards theneedle cylinder. If the actuating force is applied at the level 4| theprojection 42 is encountered and the jack will be moved the maximumdistance in a counter clockwise direction resulting inthe raising cam.13 advancing the needle to a fully advanced position. If the actuatingforce is applied at the levels 44 a recessed shoulder is struck whichwill result in the jack being moved to the full line position which willmean a partially advanced needle when cam 43 arrives. If the actuatingforce is simultaneously applied at levels 45 there will be no counterclockwise movement of the jack even when the jack lies in the dottedline position 46.

The movement of the jack 40 in a clockwise manner may be secured by anarrangement quite similar to that just described. If the patterncontrolled actuating force is applied at the point 41 against shoulder48 it will be apparent that the jack will be moved to dotted lineposition 46, while if the said force is applied at the points 49 thejack will be moved to its full line position; and if the said force isapplied at the points 50 there will be no clockwise movement even whenthe jack is in dotted line position 5I. These actuating forces forclockwise movement are assumed to be effective after cam 43 has raisedthe jack and its needle and after cam 52 has retracted them.

Fig. 4. discloses a somewhat different form of the invention in whichthe jack travels up and down in the needle slot with the needle but thejack is not fixedly pivoted to the needle. The lower end of the needleshank 54 is curved in a somewhat circular path fitting loosely in arectangular slot 55 in the central portion of the jack 56. On eitherside of slot 55 the inner edge of the jack slopes away towards the upperand lower ends of the jack as in the previous figures to allow for theangular movement which will place the jack in any one of the threepositions 59, 60, and 5!. Similarly as in the other figures the jack isheld in place in the needle slot by the ring 62. The jack of this figureallows for partial retraction as well as partial advancement. If jack 56is in position to have cam 65 contact with shoulder 63 there will bea-partial retraction of the jack 60 while if the jack is in position tohave cam 65 strike shoulder 64 there will be a full retraction of thejack. It is obvious from the figure that jack 56 may be partially orfully advanced'bycam 68 in the same manner as in Fig. 3. The actuatingforces for setting the jack in a counter clockwise manner are shown atthe points I0, II, 12 all of which are of equal extent but have avariable effect on the jack because of the stepped contour of the jack.A similar observation applies to the actuating forces I3, I4, 15 forsetting the jack in a clockwise manner. Thus both the upper arm and thelower arm have stepped shoulders for contacting with the cams forlongitudinal motion and also have stepped shoulders as contactingsurfaces for the forces producing the angular movement. a

It should be noted that in all figures the jacks are maintained withinthe needle slots by a special ring such as ring I8 and that each jack isenabled 70 to hold any particular angular setting given thereto by beingbent in such a manner as to frictionally engage the side walls of theneedle slot as at the points I9, Fig. 1. Itsis to be understood that ifdesired all of the needle slots of the 7 5 machine may be provided withjacks of this invention. Where several actuating forces are shown forproducing an angular movement of a jack it will be apparent that theyare intended to be operative only one at a time and at the proper timewith respect to the longitudinally advancing or retracting cams.

Figs. and 6 illustrate a jack quite similar to that of Fig. 1 exceptthat the frictional opposition against movement is secured by a fingeror tab 80 which acts as a spring to frictionally contact with .a sidewall of the slot. The lower end of the jack 8| has the cam actuatedshoulders as in Fig. 1 and the jack is held in the slot by having itsarcuate shaped central portion 82 contact with the stationary ring 83.

In Fig. 7 the jack comprises two members, member 84 lying in the bottomof the slot and having on its opposite edge .a knob 85 fitting into asocket opening 81 in the other member 86 of the jack. But it should benoted that the socket opening 8? is large and does not per se preventthe separation of the two members. The two members however are heldtogether by the stationary ring 88 outside the needle slot. It will ofcourse be understood that each cylinder needle of a knitting machine maybe provided with a jack such as that shown in Fig. '7 or .any of theother figures, all jacks being held in place by the special ring such asring 88.

In Fig. 8 the jack is somewhat modified over the other examples in thatthe bearing surface 90 does not project beyond the needle slot walls 9|but is substantially flush therewith. Stationary ring 92 holds the jack93 in the slot by contacting with the arcuate bearing surface 93 as thejack is moved longitudinally or is rotated about its center. The inneredge of the jack does not project as a single point contact with theslot bottom as in Fig. 1 but is slightly rounded as shown at the point94, about which the jack rocks in its angular movement. The lower arm ofthe jack has the two spaced shoulders 95, 96 to provide for selectivelongitudinal movement of the jack depending upon which shoulder iseffective at a given instant. The upper arm of the jack has a butt 9'!at its extreme upper end to be used as the point of application of forceto the jack to set the jack in a given angular position, as by a patternwheel for example, the jack being capable of assuming three angularpositions, one where neither of the shoulders 95, 96 is effective andtwo other positions where they are effective.

The jack of Fig. 9 is identical with that of Fig. 8 except that its jackhas the butt on the upper arm at a point near the central portion of thejack. The jack of Fig. 9 has therefore been given the same referencecharacters as in Fig. 8 except that they have been primed. The two jacksof Figs. 8 and 9 are particularly useful for being placed in alternateslots of a knitting machine particularly a machine of fine mesh so thatthe same pattern mechanism may selectively set both types of jacksthrough butts 91, 91' without the degree of accuracy that would berequired if jacks with the same type butt were used around the needlecylinder.

It is of course to be understood that any of the above described jacksmay be corrugated as the jack of Fig. l to provide sufficientfrictionwith the side walls of the slot to enable the jack to hold a givenangular position while it is being moved longitudinally.

It will be apparent that the jack of this invention may be adapted for awide variety of uses in knitting machines as affording independentcontrol of the knitting operations of each needle in producing many andvaried pattern effects. For such purposes it is to be understood thatthis invention is not limited to the forms 5 of jacks specificallyillustrated but may have other embodiments coming within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knitting machine, in combination, a 10 slotted bed, a knittingelement in one of the slots, a jack mounted for sliding movement in saidslot and for rocking movement in said slot on an axis intermediate toits ends, said jack being separable from said knitting element withoutremoval of the knitting element from the slot, and frictional meansadjacent to said axis for resisting movement of said jack from anyrocked position.

2. In a knitting machine, in combination, a slotted bed, a knittingelement in one of the slots, a jack mounted for sliding movement in saidslot and for rocking movement in said slot on an axis intermediate toits ends, said jack being separable from said knitting element with-.out removal of the knitting element from the slot, and frictional meansadjacent to said axis for resisting movement of said jack from anyrocked position, said jack being formed at one end with a plurality ofcam-engaging shoulders, and a cam adapted to engage said shouldersselectively depending on the position to which said jack is rocked.

3. In a knitting machine, in combination, a slotted bed, a knittingelement in one of the slots, a jack mounted for sliding movement in saidslot and for rocking movement in said slot on an axis intermediate toits ends, said jack being separable from said knitting element withoutthe removal of the knitting element from the slot, frictional meansadjacent to said axis for resisting movement of said jack from anyrocked position, said jack being formed at one end with an arcuate endsurface the center of which is the axis of rocking movement and at theother end with a plurality of cam-engaging shoulders, and said knittingelement being formed with an arcuate surface conforming to and adaptedto be engaged by the aforesaid arcuate surface, and a cam adapted toselectively engage said shoulders to impart sliding movement ofdifferent extents to said jack and said knitting element,

4. In a knitting machine, in combination, a slotted bed, a knittingelement in one of the slots, a jack mounted for sliding movement in saidslot and for rocking movement-in said slot on an axis intermediate toits ends, said jack being separable from said knitting element withoutremoval of theknitting element from the slot, and frictional meansadjacent to said axis for resisting movement of said jack from anyrocked position, said jack being formed on its outer edge at each sideof its axis of rocking movement with a plurality of surfaces adapted toreceive rocking force at different levels with respect to the bottom ofthe slot.

5. In a knitting machine, in combination, a. slotted bed, a knittingelement in one of the slots, a jack mounted for sliding movement in saidslot and for rocking movement in said slot on an axis intermediate toits ends, said jack being separable from said knitting element withoutremoval of the knitting element from the slot, frictional means adjacentto said axis for resisting movement of said jack from any rockedposition, said jack having a guide portion extending out of said slotand formed with an arcuate outer edge, the center of such are being theaxis of the rocking movement, and means extending parallel to said slotfor a distance not less than the extent of said sliding movement andserving to act against said arcuate edge to maintain the element fullyseated in its slot regardless of which of its positions it is in.

'6. In a knitting machine, in combination, a slotted bed, an elementmounted for sliding movement in one of the slots and for rockingmovement in said slot and having a guide portion extending out of saidslot and formed with an arcuate outer edge, the center of such are beingthe axis of the rocking movement, and means extending parallel to saidslot for a distance not less than the extent of said sliding movementand serving to act against said arcuate edge to maintain the elementfully seated in its slot regardless of which of its positions it is in.

7. In a knitting machine, in combination, a slotted bed, and an elementmounted for sliding ,movement in one of said slots and for rockingmovement between a multiplicity of relatively angular positions in saidslot, said element being formed with a bend intermediate its ends tofrictionally engage opposite sides of its slot to resist movement of theelement from any one of said angular, positions.

8. In a knitting machine, in combination, a slotted bed, and an elementmounted for sliding movement, in one of said slots and for rockingmovement in said slot on a portion intermediate its ends, said elementbeing formed with a bend adjacent to said portion to engage oppositesides of its slot to resist rocking or sliding movement.

9. A knitting jack, comprising a central portion having a rockingsurface and diverging end portions, one of said end portions having anarcuate end surface and the other of said end portions being formed witha plurality of shoulders adapted to-be selectively engaged by aselecting cam depending on the position to which the jack is rocked,said jack being adapted to be inserted as an independent removableelement into a slot of a knitting machine.

10. A knitting jack comprising a central portion having a rockingsurface and diverging end portions, at least one of said end portionsbeing formed with a plurality of shoulders adapted to be selectivelyengaged by a selecting cam depending on the position to whichthe jack isrocked,

and said jack being formed with an arcuate guid- 11. A knitting jackhaving a rocking surface and end portions diverging in oppositedirections from said rocking surface, said jack being bent laterallyadjacent to its rocking surface to engage opposite sides of a slot in aneedle bed to permit it to be frictionally held against easy movement ina needle slot. f

12. A knitting jack adapted to be mounted for sliding movement on aportion of a knitting machine and to be swung between a multiplicity ofpositions thereon and formed to provide along its length a plurality ofcam-engaging surfaces each adapted when the jack is in one of saidpositions to be intercepted by a single cam surface, said cam-engagingsurfaces being so disposed on said 5 jack that the cam surface willimpart to the jack sliding movements in one direction of differentextent dependent upon which of the cam-engaging surfaces is interceptedby the cam surface, said jack being adapted to be inserted as anindependent removable element into a slot of a'knitting machine.

13. A knitting jack adapted to be mountedfor sliding movement on aportion of a'knitting machine and to be swung between a multiplicity ofpositions thereon and formed to provide along its length a plurality ofcam-engaging surfaces each adapted when the jack is in one of saidpositions to be intercepted by a single cam'surfaca said cam-engagingsurfaces being so disposed on said jack that the cam surface will impartto the jack sliding movements in one direction of different extentdependent upon whichsof the cam-engaging surfaces is intercepted by thecam surface, and said cam-engaging surfaces beings'o disposed that allof them may be moved out of the path of such cam surface by a completeswinging movement of the member, said jack being adapted to be insertedas an independent removable element into a slot of 'a knitting machine.40 14. In a knitting machine, in combination with a slotted bed andactuating means mounted for relative movement, said actuating meansincluding a cam, yar'n manipul'ating members carried in the slots ofsaidbe'd, knitting jacks likewise mounted in said slots and arranged formovement along the slots to impart movement to said yarnmanipulatingmembers and also for swinging movement in said slots between amultiplicity of positions, each "of said jacks being formed with aplurality of shoulders facing generally away from the yarn-manipulatingmember and adapted to be engaged by a single surface of said cam whenswung to various of said positions whereby movements of different extentmay be imparted to said jack and said yarn-manipulating member by saidcam, each jack being separable from said yarn manipulating memberwithout removal of the yarn-manipulating member from its slot.

VINCENT LOMBARDI.

